The Observer NOV. 13, 1964

A Journal of Free Voices A Window to The South 25c

THE ELECTION IN KENEDY

Dan Strawn

Kenedy, Texas en to serve it. I must congratulate them been notified 24 hours before the election, The cloud was beginning to rise on the that they never threw me out. One lady, but that she could be an interpreter, so horizon that would harden the hearts and transcendentalized by campaign zeal, she ran back down there to watch Mrs. create bitterness among the citizens of threatened to charge me fifty cents for the Puckett some more. Kenedy. The Republicans were girding next cup, but all in all I was treated very Soon phone calls began coming in to Ike their loins for battle.- Gone were the hal- nicely for a suspected Democrat. They from irate voters complaining of being cyon days of smiling 'bwight and even hoped to save me from the sins and perdi- watched. They had never been watched be- those of frowning Dickie. Alas, trouble was tions of socialistic mentors and convert me fore while they voted. There was some- afoot. Undaunted, however diminished, to the true faith to take up a stick and thing unAmerican about all this. You real- they decided to make a fight of it. One Re- smite crime, Russians, Reds, Cubans, and ize that in Kenedy we vote, not as city publican confided to me at first that they medicare. So I turned a deaf ear to the slickers are wont to do—in booths, but on might meet in secret to plot their attack hill country Lenin and listened to the pana- tables out in plain view, if one wants to on the Democratic bastion, but no, they cea of Americanism without government look hard enough. People began calling up did not do that. Their mettle was of sterner controls, a place where nobody had to work asking why a Democratic sheriff's deputy's stuff. They opened one of the numerous to support the government, where commu- wife was a Republican poll watcher. The empty buildings on Main Street of Kenedy, nism would get its comeuppance. The cof- complaints were beginning to fall unhar- lofted their banners of Americanism and fee was excellent, and then I walked out moniously on the sheriff's ears. The sher- flaunted Barry and Representative Miller into the world again. iff, however, was looking forward to an at Peking and the Kremlin. Everyone could uncomplicated four-year tenure in office. see that the Russians would not dare at- THE REPUBLICANS were go- He was unopposed. The deputy sheriff, evi- tack Kenedy with such formidable pictures ing to make a fight of it. They had been dently getting wind of it, came into the glaring at them on Main Street. reading in the papers about fraudulent poll store and announced that he was a straight- The Democratic bastion was a block fur- tax addresses all over the place in the big ticket Democrat through and through. ther down. Ike Handelman was the Karnes cities and in the smaller ones. This was not However, suspicions were not assuaged, County Democratic Chairman who held going to happen in Kenedy. The answer and disloyalty was suspected even in the forth in Handelman's Department Store. was poll watchers. Immediately, they highest quarters, the sheriff's. One irate He had a loudspeaker from which he sought volunteers. I heard about it as I was onlooker even remarked, "If I had a wife blared forth Democratic speeches and an- passing by and offered my services, but the like that I'd spank her fanny," but she nouncements and drove the Republicans Republican chairman viewed me with sus- stayed. (and perhaps a few others) berserk with picion, perhaps because he remembered a The precinct chairwoman was formidable "Everything's O.K. at the L.B.J." over and bet we had on the election. None but the too. She reportedly threatened to turn the over again. Most of the time the streets faithful were to be allowed as poll watch- youthful Republican county chairman over were practically vacant, but the Republi- ers. her knee. She ordered him out from where cans, staunch and steadfast, never desert- When Ike heard of all this he was aston- the votes were being counted and seized a ing their post, were deluged by the noise. ished. Never in the history of Kenedy had package that he was giving to his poll Of course on Saturday everybody caught there ever been poll watchers. "Only crooks watcher. It turned out to be only a sand- it. think everybody else is crooks," Ike said. wich, but she pointed out that everything Republican honor was at stake. They, not The precinct chairwomen were enraged given to a poll watcher had to be inspected to be outdone, rigged up a loudspeaker of having their efficiency questioned. There to ferret out contraband. their own, but, its tones were so feminine was only one solution. Having poll watch- One Runge precinct chairman was indig- and its volume so unstentorian that it was ers to watch the poll watchers. nant because they had a poll watcher in merely an exhalation in a whirlwind com- In precinct 19, my precinct, the Republi- his precinct and none in the other, but the pared to Ike's device—that was, when they cans had selected Mrs. James Puckett, the Republican chairman replied that they could get it to work. I tried to work it but deputy sheriff's wife, to watch the polls. didn't have enough poll watchers to go didn't have much luck with it. Eventually Ike selected Mrs. Ruby Schultz, a quite around. they took it down, leaving the field to Ike, formidable lady, to be the Democratic poll In Karnes City the' county agent, a Dem- maintaining that they felt it their civic watcher. Mrs. Puckett rapidly put Mrs. ocrat, had to yank his Republican poll duty not to annoy passersby with it and Schultz to flight by asking her for her cre- watching wife out when irate Democrats pointing out that such things were unlaw- dentials and badge. Who had ever heard of began threatening his job. ful in big cities such as New York and Chi- credentials and a badge? Mrs. Schultz im- Tempers grew hotter. One female Repub- cago. mediately called Ike, who fled to Karnes lican worker hailed a woman voter down The Republican headquarters had two City to see the county attorney. The county and informed her that only , "Mexicans, definite advantages over the Democratic attorney said that she couldn't be author- Niggers, Jews, and poor white trash" voted one. It had good coffee and attractive worn- ized as a poll watcher because she hadn't (Continued on Page•3) and that will not tolerate mindless slogans and vendettas at the expense of the na- tional welfare. Many Texans who have never liked living in a one-party state will watch their doings the next two years with pessimistic, critic- action ReifectionJ al, but not hopeless interest.

Senator Goldwater's new slogan: Today from Harris County, should resign. Elliott , Tomorrow the World. made the practical point that Goldwater There is a good deal of lamenting in Tex- polled eight million votes less than Nixon as about professors who do not have the in Texas. realism or courage to leave their protected O'Donnell, however, said the election rounds and engage themselves in the mean- We do not intend to sit idly by while proved that Americans did not want to ingful issues of this time and place. The Texas Republicans are so terribly abused. change presidents twice in one year. He 1,014 Texas profesgors who signed the Some of our best friends are Texas Re- seemed to overlook that it also proved newspaper declaration for Johnson, Hum- publicans. Many of them can read and Americans did not want to change the presi- phrey, Yarborough, and Connally were as- write, and most of them have a good in- dent this year. O'Donnell is not resigning. serting their citizenship against the know- come. They dress well and go to the right Tad Smith, the former state Republican ledge that there might be those who would churches and prep schools. Most of them chairman who directed Goldwater's Texas hold it against Ahem. Their doing this did did not know Senator Goldwater and were campaign, blamed Goldwater, not his ideas. matter, and they should be thanked. misled by their leaders. We say let's give Texans voted "against Sen. Goldwater them another. chance. personally. . . . His loss did not represent a True, we do not propose a general repudiation of either the conservative phi- amnesty; this would be carrying friendship losophy or the Republican Party," Smith too far. Senator John Tower was one of said. Poor Goldwater, so recently a hero. Usually the slogans by which politicians seek to project their images do not merit the original ring-leaders in the Goldwater John Kingsbery, co-chairman of Travis disaster and helped make the strategy on a repeating. Every now and then, however, County Goldwaterites, says neither Gold- one of our public officials hits upon just day to day basis. It can be argued water nor the conservative movement is whimsically, of course, that he thereby put the phrase to strike instant admiration to blame for the returns. "A liberal or into the subconscious of the electorate and Democrats in his debt; but this is not so, moderate liberal Republican would have for the Goldwater . disaster fostered and make himself the envy of his colleagues lost even more," he says. Republicans run- in self-selling. We have decided that here- nourished irresponsible reaction that will ning for office, Kingsbery says—revealing be with us a long time. after, in editorials about Waggoner Carr, what's really woriying him—"realize that We should never fail to repeat his own re- The difficulty is finding enough Re- it was not the fault of their organization, election slogan this fall, to wit: "Waggon- publicans who still have some claim, in the state organization, or the national or- er Carr, Texas' GREAT Attorney Gen- Texas, to public interest and confidence in ganization. They were victims of a massive eral." In evidence, paid political advertise- light of the election returns. (We refrain vote of confidence for President Lyndon ments for Carr mention such GREAT from saying to Texas Republicans that B. Johnson." Kingsbery, too, neglects to achievements as "Over 200 Official Opin- "We told you so," although we did, as we understand that a vote of confidence that ions Released," "Opened Branch Office in have now twice remarked in the course of massive was inversely a - vote of no con- ," "Enlarged Houston Branch Of- refraining from doing so.) Let us peruse fidence in Goldwater just as massive. fice," and "Won or Disposed of 85% of the Republicans' post-election statements Senator Tower is trying to feel his way Cases Handled." All Hail, then, to Wag- in quest of candor and luminosity. toward a tenable position. He suggests that goner ("Texas' GREAT Attorney Gen- Maurice Carlson, ex-Dallas GOP chair- those who did not support Goldwater with- eral"), Carr. man, tried to start a Nixon boom in Dallas, draw as possible leaders of the party. This and he's now calling for a purge of the is just about as logical as Nixon blaming Goldwater leadership. "We need leaders Rockefeller for the Goldwater disaster with blood in their veins, not venom and although it was Rockefeller who had the bile," Carlson said. "We need leaders who Congressman Jack Brooks of Beaumont, sense to oppose it while Nixon was squeez- a progressive Democrat and as close an realize that the Republican Party cannot ing around in the wings hoping lightning be merely a second Confederate Army associate of President Johnson as any of would strike him if he played along with the Texas congressmen, would make a whistling Dixie and marching through Goldwater. But Tower also says that the Mississippi and Alabama under the Rebel 'formidable candidate for U.S. senator from party should be "reunified" to include "Re- Texas two years from now. flag urging the reinstatement of slavery." publicans of all types." Bruce Alger took his and Goldwater's of Fort Worth voted against the civil defeats as proof that we're on the way to The Texas Republicans received, through rights law and against repeal of the poll "a socialistic dictatorship." Whatever Ed the candidacy of George Bush, more votes tax; John Connally, the governor, opposed Foreman of Odessa said has escaped our than they ever have before in a political the civil rights law and medicare. Brooks notice, which almost certainly is just as contest in Texas. They have a large num- has made a record in Washington that has well. These two congressmen will not be ber of political workers, now saddened by unexceptionable appeal to the progressive missed. Charles Haden, the Harris County experience. They have IBM voter informa- coalition of Texas Democrats who re- -GOP chairman, quit, assuring all that he tion systems in Dallas and Houston that elected Sen. Yarborough this fall. Further- decided to do so before, not after, the elec- are the terror of tatterdemalion Democrats. more, Brooks has stood beside Sen. Yar- tion. "Our weakness," he said, "lies not in Two years from now they can come back borough when it was most difficult to do our philosophy but in our preachment of to win some offices in the Congress and so—such as last spring, when a certain it." He's just as well out of it, too. the legislature; although they will probab- Fort Worth congressman was telling peo- Bill Elliott, Houston's Republican city ly lose their U.S. senator, they are not yet ple they should be grateful to him because councilman, suggested Peter O'Donnell of to be counted out of the governor's race. he didn't run against Yarborough, and Dallas, the state chairman and the chief But all that aside, their responsibility this fall, when the governor was refusing of the Draft Goldwater movement, and in Texas—as distinct from their future in to endorse Yarborough by name. We sug- Gaston Jones, the state committeeman Texas—depends on their heeding the voices gest that friends of Congressman Brooks that want no part of extremism, that want explore the possibility of his candidacy for 2 The Texas Observer the Birchers excluded from the right wing, the Senate in 1966. (Continued From Page 1) forged signature instructing them that the It was all right with me. Johnson got for Lyndon. Ike was indignant at first, but Pope wanted them to vote for Goldwater 3,177 votes to Goldwater's 993. then he said, "She should have put the Jews because he didn't want a communist for first." president. That didn't help Goldwater's IN CONCLUSION I must say in One Republican said, "If Johnson is chances much there. all fairness that Republicans are bad losers. elected, in six months this country will be The Republican county chairman asked As I hopefully strode into my first debtee's turned over to the communists." I replied, me somewhat malevolently, "How is it that establishment he threw the money on the "Don't worry, if Lyndon's elected in six all the mistakes we find are in favor of floor in front of me from inside his rest months the Russians will be complaining the Democrats?" room. When I went to collect from another of having one T.V. station in Moscow." one, a much worse case, he got amnesia This seemed to calm him somewhat. "I don't know," I replied blandly. that is practically impossible to penetrate. The day drew on and near its end found "That's just what the county judge told Still another, having a pale hue, said that me making bets on the senatorial race in me." He sneered. he was sick for three days after Kennedy front of Republican headquarters, where was elected. I told him not to worry, that misty eyed they were gathering around "Maybe there are just more Democrats," medicare would take care of him. their T.V. set to watch the first votes com- I suggested. The bitterness is abating somewhat now ing in from the east. "Well, this election was run according to with only an occasional curse or moan and In Beeville to the south Catholic voters the election code, and from now on all the Kenedy is again launched on its ineluctable had gotten a letter with the Monsigneur's others will be, too." patch towards 1968.

New Power for the Texas Minorities

Austin water in Texas by 698,000; Yarborough de- dicate that he was not. Little more than Perhaps the most impressive new fact of feated George Bush by 330,000. Connally the hard-core Republican vote was cast Texas politics, apart from those that are received 214,000 more votes than Johnson against him. Connally received 1,865,000 obvious, is the politically coercive influence and 412,000 more votes than Yarborough. votes, but Carr received 1,833,000, just of Negro and Latin-American voters. It But these figures attest without qualifica- 32,000 fewer, and Connally's total exceeded has become dangerous to the career of a tion to Connally's superior popularity only Lt. Gov. Preston Smith's by 98,000, Land statewide candidate to be known as an op- if one accepts as correct the premise that Cmsr. Jerry Sadler's .by 108,000, and Agri- ponent of civil rights. Whereas in 1960 Connally was engaged in a serious political culture Cmsr. John White's by 147,000. President Kennedy received about three- contest this fall, as Johnson and Yarbor- Estimates presently available to the Ob- fourths of the votes of the state's two big ough were. It was obvious that he was not, server indicate that about 250,000 Negroes minorities, this fall President Johnson and and the votes received by other Democratic Senator Yarborough received 95% of their candidates for statewide office further in- November 13, 1964 3 votes, and, in dense racial ghettoes in the big cities, 98 and 99%. Not only did the "white backlash" not materialize in East THE TEXAS OBSERVER

Texas, where Johnson and Yarborough A Journal of Free Voices A Window to the South swept all but a mere three counties; as 58th YEAR — ESTABLISHED 1906

Marshall attorney Franklin Jones, Sr., re- Vol. 53, No. 22 74310. November 13, 1964 marked as the returns piled in, "This wasn't a backlash; this was a blacklash." Aroused Incorporating the State Observer and the San Antonio, Mrs. Mae B. Tuggle, 531 Elm- probably in large part by the tumultuous Democrat, which in turn incor- hurst, TA 6-3583; Tyler, Mrs. Erik Thomsen, porated the State Week and Austin Forum- 3332 Lynwood, LY 4-4862; Cambridge, Mass., racial demonstrations of the last three Advocate. Victor Emanuel, 33 Aberdeen Ave., Apt. 3A. years and afforded clearly outlined friends We will serve no group or party but will hew The editor has exclusive control over the edi- and enemies by the stands public figures hard to the truth as we find it and the right torial policies and contents of the- Observer. took on the civil rights law, more Negroes as we see it. We are dedicated to the whole None of the other people who are associated truth, to human values above all interests, to with the enterprise shares this responsibility registered, and then those who were regis- the rights of man as the foundation of democ- with him. Writers are responsible for their own tered voted in higher proportions than they racy; we will take orders from none but our work, but not for anything they have not them- did in 1960. own conscience, and never will we overlook or selves written, and in publishing them the edi- misrepresent the truth to serve the interests tor does not necessarily imply that he agrees In general, they voted the straight Dem- of the powerful or cater to the ignoble in the with them, because this is a journal of free ocratic ticket, benefiting, for instance, human spirit. voices. Editor and General Manager, Ronnie Dugger. The Observer publishes articles, essays, and Cong. Bob Casey of Houston, although he Partner, Mrs. R. D. Randolph. creative work of the shorter forms having to voted against the civil rights bill, and Gov. Business Manager, Sarah Payne. do in various ways with this area. The pay John Connally, although he opposed the Contributing Editors, Elroy Bode, Bill Gram- depends; at present it is token. Unsolicited public accommodations section, just as mer, Larry Goodwyn, Franklin Jones, Lyman manuscripts must be accompanied by return much as they helped Johnson and Yarbor- Jones, Georgia Earnest Klipple, Willie Morris, postage. Unsigned articles are the- editor's. James Presley, Charles Ramsdell, Roger Shat- The Observer is published by Texas Observer ough. The straight-ticket strategy was tuck, Dan Strawn, Tom Sutherland, Charles Co., Ltd., biweekly from Austin, Texas. En- pushed assiduously in the minority areas Alan Wright. tered as second-class matter April 26. 1937, at of the big cities to avoid long line-ups after Staff Artist, Charles Erickson. the Post Office at Austin, Texas, under the Act the polls closed that would be caused by Contributing Photographer, Russell Lee. of March 3, 1879. Second class postage paid at Subscription Representatives: Austin, Mrs. Austin, Texas..Delivered postage prepaid $5.00 slow, ticket-splitting voting. Helen C. Spear, 2615 Pecos, HO 5-1805; Dallas. a year; two years, $9.50; three years, $13.00. Governor Connally was the leading vote- Mrs. Cordye Hall, 5835 Ellsworth, TA 1-1205; Foreign rates on request. Single copies 25c; El Paso, Mrs. Jeanette Harris, 5158 Garry Owen prices for ten or more for students, or bulk getter for the Democrats, but it is general- Rd., LO 5-3448; Houston, Mrs. Shirley Jay, 10306 orders, on request. ly overlooked that Atty. Gen. Waggoner Cliffwood Dr., PA 3-8682; Lubbock, Doris Blais- Editorial and Business Offices: The Texas Carr ran very nearly level with Connally's dell, 2515 24th St.; Midland, Eva. Dennis, 430G Observer, 504 West 24th St.., Austin 5, Texas. Douglas, OX 4-2825; Odessa, Enid Turner, 1706 Telephone GR 7-0746. total. Connally defeated his GOP opponent Glenwood, EM 6-2269; Rio Grande Valley, Mrs. Change of Address! Please give old and new by 1,208,000 votes; Johnson defeated Gold- Jack Butler, 601 Houston, McAllen, MU 6-5675; address and allow three weeks. and 185,000 Latin-Americans voted in Tex- cle, he would have lost if they had voted thousand. The GOP fielded an opponent as this year, and if the overwhelmingly Republican. As it was, Johnson took Harris against every Democratic nominee for the pro-Democratic patterns among them that 225-151 thousand ; Yarborough won it, 196- U.S. House and lost every one. Margins in are evident from the urban precincts were 173 thousand. thousands by which the other Democratic statewide, the minorities were a decisive Bexar County has heavily concentrated 'nominees won : Patman 51-18, Brooks 75- factor in Sen. Yarborough's victory. That Latin-American voters on the west side and 45, Beckworth 53-36, Roberts 47-11, Teague is, he would not have won without them, a large Negro component on the east side. 53-12, Dowdy 64-12; Thomas 103-30, just as he would not have won, for instance, Johnson took Bexar, 106-55 thousand; Yar- Thompson 104-33, Pickle 79-24, Poage 62- without the rural brass-collar Democratic borough, 93-64. Figures provided the Ob- 14, Wright 108-50, Purcell 67-22, Young votes. Bush carried urban West Texas, server on Bexar County show that in the 104-31, de la Garza 66-29, Burleson 63-18, where members of minorities do not live in 43 Latin-American precincts worked by Rogers 58-48, Mahon 85-24, Gonzalez 100- significant numbers, but in areas where Cty. Cmsr. Albert Pena's organization af- 56, Fisher 61-17, Casey 134-96. It is of some Yarborough has had a close go before, the filiated with the Democratic Coalition, Yar- interest that the 22 Republicans who ran minorities provided an extra margin, and borough received a margin of 24 thousand; for Congress from districts (excluding, in his solid areas he won strongly with the in the 14 Negro precincts worked by G. J. therefore, Hayes) collected a total among "White Anglo-Saxon Protestant" (WASP) Sutton's group, similarly affiliated, Yar- them of about 810,000 votes, more than any and minority voters. borough's margin was 10 thousand. In other statewide GOP candidate except Bexar, 29% of the voters gave Yarborough Bush and Hayes. IN BIG CITIES the patterns 120% of his victory margin and 44% of The total Texas vote for president was were fairly clear in Texas: Johnson ap- his total vote there. 2.6 million, compared to 2.3 million in 1960. pealed more than Kennedy did to upper- In Tarrant, Travis, Jefferson, and Gal- Johnson got 63.3%, Yarborough 56.3%, income and upper-middle-income suburban veston counties, the story in the Negro and Connally 73.8%. The three constitu- voters; Johnson and Yarborough absolute- precincts is basically the same. In El Paso tional amendments passed roughly 2-1. ly swept the minority precincts; the back- County eight heavily Latin-American pre- lash was not substantial, except possibly cincts voted 94% for Johnson and 92% for in the Sabine area. PRESIDENT JOHNSON and Yarborough. In Cameron County block- Senator Yarborough swept East, North, Dallas County, which has gone Republi- worked precincts, mostly Latin-American, can the last three presidential elections, Central, South, and West Texas counties voted 77% for Johnson and 79% for Yar- except the upper Panhandle and spotted went for Johnson 167-137 thousand. Bush borough.. had planned on a 70 thousand margin in pockets. The President lost just 16 coun- Whether the work of the Democratic Dallas but got only 26. Minority precincts ties; Yarborough lost 34, with two more Coalition increased registration and turn- that were blockworked by the Democratic tied as of the all but final Texas Election out in its selected precincts is a separate C o a l i ti on (hereafter short-handed as Bureau returns Nov. 8. The Republican question from that of how these precincts blockworked precincts) gave Johnkin and pockets, aside from the upper Panhandle, voted. Preliminary estimates provided by Yarborough 24-1 and 22-1 majorities, re- were a strip of counties along the Midland- Martin Wigington, the Coalition's staff co- spectively, and margins of more than 20,- Odessa complex, the German counties of ordinator, showed turnout in blockworked 000 votes. Democrat Earle Cabell, defeat- the hill country, and three East Texas coun- precincts up 2 to 5% in Dallas, up 6% in ing Cong. Bruce Alger, attributed his vic- ties. The most conspicuous county that Tarrant, down 6% in Cameron, up 5% in tory to the teamwork in Dallas between Johnson carried but Yarborough lost was Port Arthur but down slightly in Beau- liberals and conservatives. Precinct 180, Dallas, but there were 18 of these. mont, up 12.5% in Travis, and up 4% in Negro, voted for Cabell 1,174-10. GOP Senator Goldwater carried 16 Texas Galveston. In 37 all-NegrO precincts in county chairman John 'Leedom said that counties out of the 254, compared to 80 car- Harris County, where the work of turnout 11,000 Negro votes were cast in Dallas in ried by Nixon in '60. Goldwater's 16: Ec- was handled by the Harris County Demo- the 1962 general election, compared to tor, Gray, Gregg, Hutchinson, Kendall, Mid- crats and workers associated with Mrs. 32,000 this time. land, Randall, Smith, and the miniscule R. D. Randolph, the former Democratic County Democratic Chairman Bill Clark voting populations of Edwards, Glasscock, national committeewoman, turnout in- attributed the Dallas returns to six factors: Hansford, Lipscomb, Ochiltree, Panola, creased from 40,000 in 1960 to 53,000 in Kennedy's assassination having happened Roberts, and Sherman. Dallas, heretofore 1964. in Dallas; 100,000 more poll taxes in 1964 the GOP stronghold, cast 12% of the state's than in 1960; a Texan running for presi- Here, in thousands, are margins in some vote but gave Goldwater only 14% of his other urban Texas areas: dent ; the most popular governor in Texas statewide total. It is a stark comment on history on the ticket; the fact that the Brazoria, Johnson 16-7, Yarborough 14- Goldwater's flop in Texas that among the 10 ; Ector, Goldwater 11-11, Bush 13-9; Democratic candidates complemented each eight counties of goodly size that he car- other; and Johnson's image of responsi- El Paso, Johnson 30-21, Yarborough 31-24; ried, his best showings were 4-3 victories Galveston, Johnson 29-12, Yarborough 26- bility and ability. in Gregg and Midland, each of which he 14 ; Gregg, Goldwater 12-9, Bush 12-8; Hi- In Harris County, containing Houston, carried by about 3;000 votes. He'took Smith dalgo, Johnson 21-11, Yarborough 19-12; the largest city in the South, approximately by a margin of just one vote out of every Jefferson, Johnson 45-29, Yarborough 41- 70 to 75,000 Negroes voted. How they vot- 50 cast there. 31 ; Lubbock, Johnson 22-18, Bush 24-16; ed may be deduced from the Houston McLennan, Johnson 28-11, Yarborough 26- In addition to the counties Johnson lost, Chronicle's computations on precincts that 14 ; Midland, Goldwater 12-9, Bush 14-6; Yarborough lost Moore, Oldham, Potter, are virtually all Negro wherein 56,536 Nueces, Johnson 40-14, Yarborough 35-18; Deaf Smith, Parmer, Bailey, Hale, Lubbock, voted, 98% for Johnson and Yarborough. Potter, Johnson 12-11, Bush 14-10; Smith, Yoakum, and Gaines in the Panhandle; Labor precincts in Houston voted heavily Goldwater 12-12, Bush 14-11; Tarrant, Loving, Winkler, and Ward just west of Democratic; middle-income precincts fa- Johnson 97-57, Yarborough 83-70; Taylor, Midland-Odessa ; Gillespie, Kerr, Bandera, vored Bush slightly. Goldwater carried up- Johnson 13-9, Yarborough 11-11; Travis, and Uvalde in the hill country; and Dallas. per-middle and upper-income precincts, but Johnson 44-19, Yarborough 37-27; Wichita, Andrews and Hartley were ties. by less than Nixon. In River Oaks-Tangle- Johnson 19-9, Yarborough 17-11. Some of the county returns outside the wood, the poshest *areas in Houston, John- The Democratic sweep was compounded urban complexes have a quixotic interest. son gained 12.5% over Kennedy. Yarbor- in Texas, of course, when the Texas dele- Because of the location of Johnson's ranch, ough would have lost Harris County with- gation to the House became all-Democratic, a special effort was made to carry Gillespie out his majorities in Negro boxes; John- Republican Alger of Dallas losing to Cabell County for him, and it succeeded, 4-3, de- son would have won there had no Negro 171-128 and Republican Ed Foreman of spite the county's deep Republican tradi- votes been cast in Houston, but as Walter El Paso losing to Richard White 70-55. tion. Blanco County, where the President Mansell pointed out in the Houston Chroni- Cong.-at-large Joe Pool defeated Republi- voted, supported him 1,197 to 29. Bell, in 4 The Texas Observer can Bill Hayes, 1,675 thousand to 822 deep-eyed brass-collar Democrat country, voted 5-1 for Johnson and 13-4 for Yarbor- The silver lining for the Texas GOP is a 1.2 million votes and Goldwater's getting ough. South Texas boss counties went Dem- statement that can just barely be made, 85% of the Nixon total in the midst of their ocratic strongly. Webb was 10-1 for John- but is nevertheless significant, that George national pratfall. son, 7-2 for Yarborough. Duval was 21-1 Bush, while 'losing with a thump, got more It is still true, as Jon Ford sagaciously for Johnson, 19-1 for Yarborough. votes than any Republican ever received pointed out in the San Antonio Express, Do these results mean the Republican in Texas—more than Eisenhower in 1952 that the hard-core Texas Republican vote, Party is a lost cause_ for some years in or 1956 and more by a whisker than Nixon gauged by the votes cast for state candi- Texas? Not necessarily, although the Dem- in 1960. (Nixon got 1,325 fewer Texas votes dates who were not the lead horses, has ocratic power structure that now domi- than Bush's total as of Nov. 8.) The elec- increased a mere 100,000 over that in 1960. nates national politics will be able to take torate has been expanding, of course, but This is a pop fly to right field compared to its tolls with especially telling effect in Texas Republicans can hope for better the 600,000 new Republicans the state party Texas because the President is Texan. times on the basis of Bush having received was trying to locate and sign up this year. Gov. Connally's Chosen Non-Role

Gov. John Connally's chosen role in the optimistic polls, because it would be a in the headquarters had to be obtained Yarborough-Bush contest was a non-role. difficult race. The governor had Marvin from this same area. Blake Gillen, the di- Connally explicitly advocated a straight- Watson of Daingerfield made the state rector of organization for the national ticket vote, but he never specified that this Democratic chairman in September, despite campaign in Texas, sought to relate almost included Yarborough. Although logically, the fact that Watson is closely associated entirely with Connally people around the of course, it did, liberal Democrats could in business with E. B. Germany, the Lone state ; his attitude toward the pro-Yar- not fail to perceive that Connally was hold- Star Steel magnate who was conspicuous borough activity in the area supervised by ing aloof from Yarborough and keeping the in the "Democrats for Bush" movement. Mrs. Lambert was frosty, and the Yar- state party campaign effort as far away When steelworkers pressed Connally about borough people in the headquarters felt like from the senator as he could. this, he said Watson was for Yarborough; outsiders. When a birthday party was given Connally's silence about Yarborough was Watson never said so publicly. (Watson for state campaign manager Hunter Mc- the more conspicuous in light of the gov- spent most of the campaign in Washington, Lean, Mrs. Lambert and Mrs. Lenora Rolla ernor's several journeys to Dallas to sup- working with Johnson forces in the Demo- of the Democratic Coalition staff were not cratic National Committee and, in the late port Earle Cabell for Congress. The Dallas invited (they went anyway). While M. J. stages, in the White House.) Democratic candidates for the legislature Anderson of Austin, a Negro leader of the United Political Organizations (U.P.O.), came down to Austin, had a meal at the A group of labor people, coordinated by Mansion, and basked in the governor's was an official in the state campaign, no Mrs. Latane Lambert, worked out of the Latin-American was designated to a cor- protracted public encomiums. (Of conserva- Johnson-Humphrey state campaign head- tive Ben Atwell, one of the Dallas candi- responding role, because each time a person quarters in Austin. The only pictures of was proposed the labor-Democratic Coali- dates for the House, the governor was Yarborough in the state headquarters were tion people objected to him. Nevertheless, quoted this fall, "As governor I cannot displayed in Mrs. Lambert's work area, and McLean vigorously investigated reports of accomplish the duties expected of me with- the only Yarborough literature available out men like him." Texas AFL-CIO, in its anti-Yarborough activity in association evaluations of legislators' votes on key with the Johnson-Humphrey campaign in Texas and satisfied Yarborough workers issues, gave Atwell a three-session total, 1957 through 1961, of 66 "bad votes" and in the state headquarters that he was not six "good" ones.) The governor helped Connally's Plans tolerating such activity. open a building in Dallas, made campaign Sen. Yarborough maintained campaign speeches for Johnson in other states, and Austin headquarters separate from the Johnson- What is Gov. John Connally's plat- helped the Johnson campaign from the Humphrey offices in most Texas cities. form for state government the next White House, but when asked—in Wash- None of the state party's money, such as two years? The Texas League of ington and during the governor's confer- the funds collected for the Nov. 22, 1963, Women Voters asked him, in a candi- ence in San Antonio—about Yarborough's banquet in Austin that John Kennedy never date questionaire, "What are the candidacy, he observed that Yarborough reached, was turned over to any of these major goals you would like to ac- would probably run behind Johnson and Yarborough offices. Although some local complish in. the next two years?" and him because some conservatives were not party drives, such as in San Antonio, he replied in advance of the election: going to vote for the senator. stressed the "Pull One Lever" campaign, "Greater fulfillment of state and the state Democratic campaign did not It was in this context that Charles Moss, local responsibilities in improving really sell this program, settling in its TV Llano Democratic chairman, wired Con- education at all levels, including steps commercials on a pitch for Johnson, with nally Oct. 24, in advance of a seven-county to broaden vocational education, re- "Vote Democratic" thrown in. Democratic rally in Llano, "We, the leaders duce school drop-outs and combat of the Democratic Party of Llano County, illiteracy; continued progress in men- Connally's people were anxious that Yar- are calling on our fellow Democrats every- tal health, including more research and borough's people believe that Connally had where to support the straight Democratic local contract care for the mentally not done anything to hurt Yarborough. It was even explained to Yarborough people ticket from the White House to the court- ill; greater responsibility in water de- house, and we are sincerely trustful that velopment, state parks improvement, in the Kennedy-Johnson state headquarters some outward and immediate declaration industrial and tourist development." that of course Connally was not for Bush because Bush was a real threat to the Con- - from you as head of the state organization Speaking to the Texas Research will make it crystal clear that this includes League last week, Connally added to nally group in 1966. The more votes Bush our senior senator, Ralph W. Yarborough, these programs establishing "a strong received, this line of reasoning .went, the better Bush would be able to challenge and that you are supporting him also." board" for Texas higher education, Connally never answered this wire. abolishing the state property tax, and Connally in 1966. providing more facilities for the When, late in the campaign, Yarborough In private, Connally's early position was supporters, including labor people in Wash- that he was for Yarborough and that the mentally retarded. senator's people had better not depend on November 13, 1964 5 ington, began pressing to get Johnson back the conservative Democrat, Bill Blakley- who were identified with their college con- into the state in time to endorse Yarbor- may be in the Houston oilman's mind for nections as member of the steering com- ough some more, Connally was reported to 1966, already. A little-noticed post-election mittee • of the group, along with Jack be arguing that Johnson should not do this. remark by Bush found its way to the end Scroggs and the late J. Frank Dobie. These The night after the election Connally was of a long AP story Nov. 5: "I'm sure con- were Frank E. Vandiver and Louis P. explaining privately that he had not done servatism is the thing that got beat in Galambos, Rice; William Pool, Southwest anything specific for Yarborough because Texas. Certainly the party should be big Texas State; Alfred R. Neumann, Uni- he had regarded it as his, the governor's, enough to include people of different phi- versity of Houston ; Rupert N. Richardson, role to help keep businessmen in line for losophies." Whether Bush, after being "en- Hardin-Simmons; Hudson Long, Baylor; Johnson, and that by keeping Yarborough thusiastic" for Goldwater for president, Ralph A. Wooster, Lamar State College of at arms'-length, he had helped the Presi- could re-cast his image in time to pull a Technology; William Arrowsinith, Univer- dent. On the other hand, it is logical that John Tower on Connally or Waggoner Carr sity of Texas; J. Reuben Wheeler, Texas Connally would be worried about Bush's in the 1966 governor's race—that's a ques- Southern University; George Wolfskill, attractiveness as a candidate. tion he may be thinking on already. Arlington State; George Bond, Southern Obviously, Bush is now a threat to the Upon Yarborough's election Connally Methodist; Ben H. Proctor, Texas Chris- Connally group—or to Connally himself if made a friendly statement, with a couple of tian; Scroggs, listed as past president, he chooses to run for re-election. Bush says afterthoughts that looked like barbs recon- Texas Assn. of College Teachers; and he intends to stay in politics, and since he sidered and metamorphosed, to the Dallas Dobie. could not run for the Senate in 1966 with Times-Herald. "He [Yarborough] won a John Tower seeking re-election, he most fine victory in a tough race," Connally was YARBOROUGH had his last plausibly will run for governor. Bush did quoted. "I know that in his service he will word on the Estes $50,000 story in Dallas in fact get more votes than any other Re- do his utmost, as we all will, to represent Oct. 27—and he unloaded, so effectively publican candidate for state or U.S. office all .the people of the state. . .. I am sure the recorded speech was later played on in Texas history, including Tower, and Bush Sen. Yarborough, like all of us, will want statewide TV. He quoted Goldwater as ran 170,000 ahead of Goldwater in Texas. to reflect an attitude of cooperation and having said in Dallas that Yarborough was A possibility that was not open to Bush project an image of a people here in Texas "not subject to criticism" because he ac- as a candidate against Yarborough—the who not only want to keep pace with the cepted political contributions from Estes same kind of liberal defections and absten- nation, but be in the vanguard of progress before Estes got into trouble. Arguing tions that helped elect Tower in 1961 over and stability in a troubled world." boldly, Sen. Yarborough said that in the Republican primary last spring, Bush attacked his opponent then, Jack Cox, for Cox's having taken a contribution from Estes, whereupon Cox counterattacked that this was a very unfair argument. Quoting Cox, . Yarborough said Bush- was Yarborough's Victory Cox's Harris County campaign manager in 1962 and " 'he knew that Billie Sol Estes made a political contribution to me.' " Then Yarborough quoted "a Republican news- paper" saying that "only a devious dema- torial silence on the Senate race; so did While most of the major dailies in Texas gogue" would fault Cox because of this endorsed President Johnson, most of them all three San Antonio dailies. contribution. also endorsed Bush. As the Lubbock Ava- Also for Bush were the Dallas News, lanche-Journal pointed out (in an editorial Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Estes was one of the five outstanding saying Yarborough had "solid support from Press, El Paso Times, and the dailies in young men selected by the Texas Jaycees, tightly controlled minorities" but was Lubbock, Longview, Sulphur Springs, and one day before Estes was arrested, the "quarantined" by Democrats of statewide Cuero, Lufkin, Harlingen, Brownsville, Mc- Dallas News carried a story about him en- popularity with the "sole exception" of the Allen, Gainesville, Bay City, Kilgore, Beau- titled, "Billie Sol in Pecos: Estes Building President), only one Texas daily with cir- mont, Tyler, and Denton. Also for Yarbor- An Empire Worthy of Any Texan," Yar- culation of more than 30,000 endorsed Yar- ough: the dailies in Waxachachie, Dumas, borough' recited. Estes had given him con- tributions totaling just $7,200—not $5,000 borough. This was the El Paso-Herald Post Brownwood, Del Rio, Wichita Falls, (whose editor the Avalanche-Journal con- Temple, Corsicana, and Jacksonville. or $9,000 or any other sum as per "the big demned because he "recently was sent in Yarborough's TV announcements made lie being fostered against me by this ex- tremist running against me," Yarborough from San Francisco where his paper also effective use of endorsements of him by followed a liberal line"). the late President Kennedy and by Presi- said. dent Johnson. In his newspaper ads, too, Yarborough said he had taken the $50,- Most of these Bush endorsements were Yarborough stressed these endorsements 000 charge to the FBI—"Now you're not no surprise, but those of the Dallas Times- going to those fellas if you've committed Herald and the Houston Chronicle were ("Here's what two great Presidents said about Senator Ralph Yarborough"). Other a crime," he threw in—and the Justice for those two papers had appeared to be Yarborough newspaper ads sought to iden- Department had concluded the story was following a somewhat progressive course tify Bush with extremism, the Birch So- "without any foundation in fact," the sena- in the last year or so. The T-H simply tor stressed. said Bush was an excellent man ; the ciety, and opposition to the nuclear test "My opponent won't say I got $50,000. Chronicle, however, in an editorial which ban treaty.- In "Women for Yarborough" ads, Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson's name led We'd lift some of that Kuwait oil from him did not specify issues on which the editors differed with Yarborough, said he was "the off long lists. if he did. I'll file suit on him within 24 most 'liberal' man ever to represent Texas In a state with a spotty history of aca- hours if he—He won't say it. This men- in Washington." Calling the question "per- demic freedom, the ad listing the names tioning of different sums is a big smear," haps the hardest decision" Nov. 3, the of "1,014 university professors in Texas" Yarborough said, setting off bursts of Chronicle said Texas would be "better endorsing Johnson, Humphrey, Yarbor- emotional applause among his supporters. served in the long run" by Bush. Sunday ough, and Connally (in that order) had a (The Kuwait oil referred to would be that before the election the Chronicle ran a special interest. The names of 26 colleges drilled by Bush's international drilling spread across two-thirds of its editorial were given in a separate block of type; company in Kuwait.) page, showing how to vote for Johnson and apparently these were the schools at which Yarborough did not mention the matter Bush. The Houston Post maintained edi- the 1,014 professors teach. Boldest, from again election eve; Bush did. Bush remark- the point of view of risking the ire of their ed that James Fonville, one of Estes' two 6 The Texas Observer governing boards, were the 12 professors "witnesses," had called on the governor "to help clear his name" and that Fonville had Was he bitter, a reporter asked him, that seem momentarily inexpedient, but 'after said he had taken the lie detector test and Texas' large dailies did not support him? all I gave up my law practice to be a passed it. Bush upheld the Texas Depart- Not at all, he said; with ten million people senator, and I wouldn't be true to myself ment of Public Safety as "a wonderful to represent he didn't have time to be if I had just voted with what was expedi- agency," but closed that the Estes subject bitter. As to newspapers, "I just said that ent at the moment." was "pretty much old hat." my job has been more difficult because In his final pre-election slams at Bush, for six years the two papers in Dallas have Yarborough condemned him for "his slandered me. The prime example of that BUSH'S ADS in the dailies the Goldwater againstism" and for opposing was the Dallas News infamous lie about final weeks were displays of names of his the war on poverty, federal aid to build the Billie Sol Estes $50,000. They tried to supporters — "448 reasons to vote for classrooms, the nuclear test ban treaty, slander me out of office with it when they George Bush" in Harris County (the names of 448 supporters there) , 184 in San An- medicare, and the . Further- knew it was a base falsehood." •- more, Yarborough said, "this Ivy League had stated in ad- tonio, "hundreds" in a South Texas ad. Republican" was for the Trinity River vance of the election, in an editorial, that Certainly Bush's most attention-attracting Authority, in his -own words, only "under Yarborough should be re-elected, and he gambit the last few days was his debate certain conditions." said that it was "a great consolation to me with "the empty chair," a whiskered cam- to know that the greatest newspaper in paign trick to call attention to an oppon- Yarborough was endorsed by Cong. Jim ent's refusal to debate. Bush had some Wright, Fort Worth, on TV and in a signed America had given me this recognition, even though Texas papers have not." wrinkles, though : he played back Yarbor- newspaper ad in the Fort Worth Star-Tele- ough's own statements on tape recordings, gram, and on TV also by Cong. Wright Leading at that point in the evening by better than 59% of the vote, Yarborough which provoked from Yarborough the Patman and Graham Purcell the final charge that it was an illegal trick. The night. said his own estimate had been 57%, but Federal Communications Cmsn., to whom President Johnson's boosts for Yarbor- that he had been at a low point Oct. 3 when Congress finally adjourned because he had Yarborough promptly appealed, for which ough the last few days included a tele- not been able to campaign without inter- Bush just as promptly berated him, ruled phone endorsement to a Pasadena rally in ruption to return to Washington. But he that the empty chair debate was all right which Johnson said, "It is mighty import- soon saw, he said, that he would _win and was not unfair to Yarborough. Bush ant to me to have him returned to the ; and when he read Newsweek's prediction that thereupon played it a second time, the Senate." This endorsement was played on Sunday before the election. Yarborough's election eve program. On "Smilin' Ralph" would not be re-elected, he wired them, "Smilin' Ralph is still smilin', Democratic precinct chairmen's support- Monday before the election, Johnson en-. Bush is bushed, and you should give your ing Bush publicly in Dallas caused a run- dorsed Yarborough several times at Hous- pollster a long vacation." ning argument there. Dan Weiser, the ton stops, calling him "one of the wisest A reporter said to him that his vote for executive secretary of the county party and most effective senators in the United the civil rights bill must have taken a lot committee and a loyal Democrat, demand- States." Yarborough and Cong. Jake Pickle of courage. "Well, at the time I cast that ed they explain themselves and declared rode with Johnson in the motorcade to that party officials who don't support the Johnson's final speech of the campaign at vote," he replied, "we had polls and knew that 38% of the people of Texas approved party ticket ought to be thrown out of the foot of the mall on the Capitol grounds and 62% felt strong opposition, so politic- ofice. Seven precinct chairmen retorted in Austin. Election night Johnson and his ally that was pretty risky; but that's not that not they, but Weiser should be thrown entourage visited Yarborough's headquart- out because of his "disservice" to the ers, and Johnson in the presence of the the only one like that. The people didn't elect me to go up there and take, a Belden Democratic Party in taking this stand. press thanked Yarborough for saving Tex- Poll or a Gallup Poll and vote the way it "Purge," trumpeted a newspaper ad for as from having two Republican senators; says, but to vote for the long-range, best Bush growing out of this dispute. Yarborough thanked Johnson for his en- interests of Texas. Some of them may While Bush's manner in person is dorsement. amiable and easy-going, in his television appearances the last week or so he was H AVING WON, Sen. Yarbor- harsh and angry. He referred to his op- ough was besieged election night by re- ponent as "Yarborough" much as Gordon porters, radio stations, and supporters. His Rayburn to Estes McLendon did earlier this year and fur- basic statement thanked Texans for his One detail that did not come out rowed his brow as he delivered somewhat victory and "thousands of volunteers who during the fall campaigns—no doubt hurried denunciations of his opponent. worked without compensation and against because of the veneration in which his It was difficult to avoid the conclusion a great aggregation of wealth. In Harris memory is held among Texas Demo- that Bush had been thrown on the defen- County alone, I would see hundreds at a crats—is the late Speaker Sam Ray- sive. Private polls may have caused him to time volunteering their time." burn's 1960 letter to Billie -Sol Estes. brace for the worst. Yarborough's slams The senator was not feeling charitable Rayburn wrote, on December 28, against him as "the darling of the John about the opposition. "You know, when 1960: Birch Society" provoked him to deny em- you're fighting the big money—and in "Dear Mr. Estes: phatically that he was a Bircher or had Texas that means the big papers—when "Thanks for your letter of Decem- any desire to become one. Although he had they can't break the candidate down, they ber 15th, recommending Mr. Bill Mat- said flatly in ads that he opposed treaties try to break his family down," he said. "I tox for appointment to the Texas State without adequate safeguards and the intend also to thank the Lord because he Agriculture Stabilization and Conser- nuclear test ban treaty did not have these, has delivered me from the snares of many vation Committee. on his closing-night TV show he said only, foulers." The campaign against him, he "I will call this to the attention of as to the nuclear test ban treaty, "I've said, had been one of "defamation and the appointive officers because I know always favored one with adequate safe- guards." He must have worried about the slander." you would not recommend a man to farm vote, also; his last night he said, "I "I think my opponent ought to pick up any position unless he was a man of am not opposed to all subsidies. . . . Whit his baggage and go back where he came high character and good ability. I favor is a gradual return to more freedom from. It was one of the vilest campaigns," "With every good wish, I am/Sin- for the farmer." Yarborough said. Asked if he had contact- cerely yours,/Sam Rayburn." ed Bush, he said he had not and did not The letter is just one more item in Countering Johnson's endorsements of intend to. "A hard-fought campaign is all the documentation of Estes' high Yarborough, Bush produced former Presi- dent Eisenhower's endorsement of him. He right. This kind of campaign is not all standing before his fall from political right. If ought not have been imported grace. referred to Connally as "my governor and into this state," he said. November 13, 1964 7 yours, by the way, regardless of party." In San Antonio he said, "It is very broad- minded of President Johnson [to endorse Yarborough] in that Yarborough has called him 'a power-mad Texas politician.' " Simi- larly in tangential defense of Connally and Some Texans on L.B.J. Johnson, Bush wrote in his special article for the UPI, "These and other smears make suspect [Yarborough's] judgment, balance, In "L.B.J.: An Unposed Profile," the Na- "Those early classes with those brilliant and ability to cooperate." tional Educational Television Network, the students who were interested in govern- ment, some of the classes that Lyndon was Bush watched the returns with his fami- week after the election, presented some re- in, perhaps, gave me more joy than any ly and his parents, former U.S. Sen. Pres- freshingly plain opinions and insights about cott Bush and his wife. Conceding in a President Johnson by Texans NET inter- other teaching chore. And the first time he opened his mouth about politics, I knew he statement to supporters at the Hotel Ameri- viewed before the election. Not many peo- had it. And in those early courses we con- ca in Houston, Bush said, "He beat me fair ple watch educational television yet, and and square," but hoped the size of his vote we pass along here some of the things said ducted, more or less as a seminar, they'd would serve as "a modifying factor" on on that program. get in arguments. . . . Yarborough's views. He said he clidn't [In debates in class with Henry Kyle], know how he had lost—"I guess I have a Bill Brammer, novelist: "He's such a po- "Well, he [Lyndon] was, I would say, at lot to learn about politics. . . . No one else litical animal, and he is an emotional ani- times he would grow almost ruthless, when is to blame but me." He said he will con- mal. He just doesn't respond emotionally he knew he had him logically and had the tinue to be active in politics. to the situation. . . . advantage of him, why he could become "Over the period that I worked for him, ruthless. Many is the time I felt that way, close to five years, he had a feeling that and came to Henry's rescue to mollify, or he was always at his best, which is very, to help out, because when it came to these very good, under pressure. He really res- FRANK CAHOON, a Midland political questions, I mean questions in gov- ponds to it. You could see the adrenalin ernment", you see, in politics, why he had oil executive, will be the only Republican start moving with him. In repose, he can convictions, and strong convictions, and so in the next session of the Texas legislature. be almost childlike. . . . far as his ruthlessness was concerned, why Ex-Rep. W. E. Snelson of Midland narrow- "He's a great man, he's a—awful senti- he was just ruthless in the pursuit of ly defeated the GOP's most serious con- tender for the State Senate this year, Dr. mental." truth." S. L. Abbot of El Paso. All incumbent GOP state legislators seeking re-election lost. Willard Deason, a college roommate of Dr. Joe Frantz, professor of history, Uni- Democrats swept all nine Dallas House Johnson's: "We used to play some domi- versity of Texas, spoke about Johnson's seats, but the only non-conservative among noes. He plays dominoes in the purest man- earlier conservative votes, which had been the winners is James Stroud, who pledges ner. He doesn't want you to take 15 seconds mentioned by the Observer .editor (whose to fight the doubling of college tuition but to make up your mind. He plays in a hurry, remarks are included in Observations on otherwise favors all the governor's pro- and he expects you to play in a hurry. . . . page 15 this issue). Dr. Frantz: grams, especially, the establishment of a "I've been told he's a great compromiser. "Well, I think the American public that state department of labor and the repeal He's not a great compromiser, he's a great is politically minded tends to forgive Mr. of the poll tax. Tony Bonilla became the salesman." Johnson, or understand some of his earlier first Latin-American to represent Nueces votes. He first of all had to represent an County by defeating Republican incumbent Cong. Wright Patman of Taxarkana: area that did have—or - was at least a little Rep. Charles Scoggins about 2-1. Scoggins, "He's not too liberal, but he's a—what slow to accept full civil rights. On the other who got in by taking a high-man-wins spe- some people would call a do-gooder to this hand, as he has grown in stature and has extent, that he is wanting to do good. It's cial election .. while Democrats split their been more sure of his position, and more votes, said ruefully after his defeat that certainly much better than being a do- sure of his chances for re-election, and of "the whole world seems to be tending to- badder. . . . course most particularly since' he. has be- ward socialism." The whole world may be, "I was a member of the Texas legisla- come a national and not a Texas politician, but not the Texas legislature, which con- ture, and Samuel E. Johnson, Lyndon's fa- he has not had to fight always that battle tinues militantly conservative in spite of ther, was my deskmate. And Lyndon came for re-election from a home constituency. the Republicans' washout there. in, first time I saw him, to visit his father He now belongs to the nation, I think he one day. He didn't work in the legislature, takes a national outlook, rather than a In Houston a Negro attorney who has he had come in and out. He was 12_ years strictly Central Texas Congressional out- been closely identified with the N.A.A.C.P. old, he was a tall boy then. He was always look. . . . for years, Asberry Butler, and a liberal working, having imagination, eager beaver, "President Johnson is basically, I think, housewife, Mrs. Howard Barnstone, were doing something good for somebody. . . . non-intellectual, and in. an Eastern sense, elected to the seven-member Houston school You know, he's still that same eager beaver board in upsets. Butler becomes the second non-cultural, and certainly in the Eastern type. sense non-sophisticated, or even anti-so- Negro on the board, joining Mrs. Charles "He is not a fellow that harbors any , phisticated. There is a certain common White. In Midland Republicans won a coun- grudge or bad feeling. He very quickly for- touch about him that someone like Mr. ty commissionership and the county attor- gets it. And if you have a difference one ney's post; they had a county judge there day, and another day or two, he wouldn't Kennedy never had. already. Republicans lost all their local remember it." "On the other hand, I think Mr. Johnson is very much aware that these things exist candidacies in Dallas except one, an incum- "He's just a full-blood in the world, knows how to use them, and bent county commissionership. Houston Chuck Richey: Texan. He's fed horses and cows, slopped I think he can find a sort of common de- voters created a mosquito control district hogs all his life, and went barefooted when nominator among the American people that to obviate a repetition of the recent enceph- he was a kid, and he's a big fellow. He's could possibly make him the most effective alitis outbreak there. Abilene voters reject- broad-minded, solid man, big ears, big eyes, President we've had within memory. . . . ed a proposal that fluoride be added to and he's easy going." "I don't think Lyndon Johnson intends to let historians decide whether he's good their water supply to help prevent tooth Professor H. M. Greene, professor of gov- or not. He plans, again in the best action, decay among them. ernment and history at San Marcos State to go out and make himself a reputation 8 The Texas Observer Teachers when Lyndon Johnson was there: that will endure." ❑ xxxxxx 388e a::.• 8383&1:W...: :ig3:::t:832n3838?::£181.: 1: It. h88 •888882E4h8$28$3g3::88 :q8288811328 The North in Blew the Scent ro Georgia Earnest Klipple

Austin she explained. "The boy who was stabbed "Once upon a time there were two fathers, Richard, small and dark and wizened to death yesterday was my former pupil Pancho and Cisco. Every year they harvest- under his mop of midnight-black hair, sat and I want to go to his funeral." ed the crops, starting in the Rio Grande by the teacher. "Mees, yesterday I get a The faculty meeting concerned the Uni- Valley, working to Corpus Christi, then bag of bread free," he said. versity of Texas Domestic Peace Corps on to Central Texas, and finally up to "That's good," said the teacher. tutorial project. Thirty young men and Michigan. Cisco kept his children in school, "I tell them my mother she is seek," said women University students would adopt but Pancho let his children drop out. Richard apologetically, "and she is not two deprived children for an hour each Cisco's children grew up and got jobs in seek." After a moment he added, "Her week. stores and who knows, maybe some even feet are seek. She work all day." "You will extend the horizons of these went to the University and became lawyers. "In a store?" asked the teacher. children," Mr. Frank Wright, University But Pancho's children continued to follow -'No, Mees. She cut open the chickens Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. executive, told the the crops year after year." and take the insides out." He brought the University students assembled with the The parents met the teachers after the original subject back, "They give me the school faculty. "You will give them a bread at Ceesco's." speeches. "I can make anything out of chance to identify upward instead of down- iron," said a father, "iron grillwork, iron "It's too hard," augmented Antonio. ward." "Not too hard to be good to eat," said decorations, garden furniture. I made some "You will give them something to talk iron flowers for the third grade teacher the teacher, anxiously polite. "It's just a and think about other than who was day old." last year. But the pay is low. I can make stabbed over the weekend," said a second more money in maintenance work, so that "Yes, just a day old," repeated Antonio, grade teacher. glad to be explained. is what I do." "Today we will take a walk to the "For perhaps the first time in their lives these children that you tutor will have an That night the teacher read the child- church," the teacher told the class. "We ren's poem booklet. will look for something we can write a adult listener besides their teacher," said poem about." the principal. "If you are a child in a Yolanda had written: family of twelve, you don't get listened to The first norther of the season was very often." We went for a walk blowing brisk and cool. The cream-colored "And you will have gained a friend," and we saw the church. stone church rose majestic from its nest contributed a sixth grade teacher. We saw red roses of slum. At its base red roses bloomed in A lovely sorority girl choose Richard blow like a flag. a last glorious spurt before the sap stilled and Paul to be her adopted children. "I'm We saw green glass for winter, and the churchyard smelled so excited about this," she said. "I want in the door. sweet. The call of the incessant train bells to have them to dinner at the sorority We took a walk from the railroad yard came in strong on house." to the church today. the north wind. Richard came back to school to show James philosophized: The children returned from their walk the teacher his Pan-Am membership card. and made a poem book. "Look, Mees," he said. He put it back in I like to think about the red roses. "I go to Pan-Am today," said Eddie as his pocket then took it out again to look They make me very happy. the class lined up to go home. "We _cook at and rub it—like Aladdin's lamp. Until I think my love is good banana pudding. Benjamin he sign up for this moment his comb had been his prized To the red roses. cooking, too." possession, but the card now superceeded "I would like to go to Pan-Am," said it. Annie's imagination went afar: Richard. The P-TA met that night in the school, "Why don't you go?" asked Eddie hos- I saw a little bluebird and the auditorium was filled, children That flew over the river, pitably. "Anybody can go—if he has a Pan- by their parents stretching down long lines Am card." And he remembered he lost of seats. "Thank you for coming out to- A little blue feather. - "The card it cost 25 cents," said Rich- night for this worthwhile cause," said the ard. no have 25 cents." darkly handsome emcee. "We want the city Rose Ann's poem: "I have an idea," said the teacher after to know that East Austin is behind this The north wind some thought. "I went to a drive-in movie school bond." blew the scent the other day and when I opened my car- The dance band burst into melody of dark red roses. door I saw a quarter shining in the dirt. deafening in strength and of compelling The dark red roses There was no way to find the owner. I beat, the young orchestra leader sang a still have the quarter. I could give it to passionate love song in Spanish. Two men as dark as the color of the red you and you could get a membership card sang Span,ish duets. The drummer took in the flag, in Pan-Am." over the microphone to sing. The stand was The dark red roses Richard brightened. "Did you go to the too low. He swung it off the floor, tossed looked down drive-in movie Saturday, Mees?" he asked. his head, and danced with it all over the at the ground. "Saturday or Sunday," said the teacher. stage, singing lustily. Everyone was de- The wind blew "My brother he go to the drive-in movie lighted. The superintendent of schools said the smell on Saturday and he lose a quarter," said "This is the peppiest P-TA meeting I ever of the red roses. Richard. He accepted the quarter from the attended." The smell of the red roses teacher. The school bond issue was explained could make you fly Mrs. C excused herself from the first in English, then in Spanish. "You high faculty meeting after school. She had don't want your children to follow the in the sky. changed to a black dress and put on hat crops," a lawyer of Latin extraction said and heels. "I can't stay for the full time," to the people. He told them a parable. November 13, 1964 9 Of Mice and Men in Washington

Washington, D.C. Larry King with senatorial and gubernatorial buckets, Nowhere will you find the rumor crop only to return toting dry dust. Henry is not better than in Washington. This is the likely to win statewide office without a home of Presidents, back-fence slanders, of public grief. Gov . Connally is said to name-change. and hallucinatory tittle-tattle. You can hear be weary of office, fears L.B.J. would cast Ronnie Dugger, wise and kind editor of anything: the Washington Redskins are him as personal errand boy in the Senate, this journal, was nominated as our candi- about to slip their chains and win a foot- knows Mrs. Connally has been eager for date one warm night underneath the trees ball game, Billie Sol Estes is to be named private life since the Kennedy tragedy in as Scholz Biergarten when strong spices either Secretary of Agriculture or Chaplain Dallas. Thus, scuttlebutt runs, did the gov- were in the air. In daylight, however, it of the Senate, Lyndon Johnson fatigues ernor slyly cast about in search of other was recognized that Ronnie has made so badly after three miles of walking on fish for the senatorial kettle, and Rep. many utterances arousing in the extreme water. I accept exactly none of the fore- Pickle took the hook. The President is said to our massive collection of home-grown going tales. But there is one hairy hear-say at least moderately pleasured with the Yahoos that he might need luck to escape making the rounds of cloak rooms and gin catch. rope and scaffold if judged at public hands. mills which might be closely examined Not wishing him dead, we reneged on our before being consigned to the scrap-heap. ONE MIGHT ASK what Pickle pledge. With a rolling of drums and muted giggles, has done to deserve promotion to the U.S. Dan Sullivan, the Young Lochinvar who let it be revealed: Congressman Jake Pickle Senate. The answer is mercifully briefs not came out of the West to do himself reason- will get The Establishment's gray-flanneled much. But the question turns moot if L.B.J. ably proud in a losing race for congress- nod for United States senator in 1966. honestly (oops, sorry Barry!) wants him man-at-large this season, tickles many liberal fancies. But Dan is judged not ready Don't ask me why. Being a propagandist in the race. When Johnson is riding tall for the big show. He needs time, exposure, and not a biologist, I merely circulate in the saddle he can be as lean, and mean and seasoning. rumors—not dissect them. But a Washing- as Gordon McLendon's fellow super-patriot ton-based Texas politico, to whom this cor- and yodeler of nonsense, John Wayne. Congressman Jack Brooks of Beaumont respondent swore blood oaths in the in- What I am saying as a free man, an Ameri- has genuine liberal credentials, sports as terest of preserving the fellow's identity can, a Texan, a Democrat, and a Da-Yum- good a voting record as any Texan in the and job, claims to have plu-perfect know- Fool—in that order—is that L.B.J. has got House, enjoys L.B.J.'s personal confidence ledge that President. Johnson and Gov. the muscle to hand-pick our Party's of- to the extent that he has virtually been Connally have privately dubbed Sir Jake ficially-blessed pretender to the Senate pro- given free run of the White House and all. the one. All for the purpose of tilting with vided he has matching desire. There are allied trappings from President's-ear-to- Republican John Tower at point of lance. those who predict he has. grog-urns. But Brooks has shown no inter- If Jake gets handed the rope, he no doubt est in statewide office to date, has never Pickle aide Bob Waldren met questions will lasso in his cause many old cronies of troubled to fashion a whoop-and-holler with denial fashioned thus: "If he's been conservative bent who approved his stripe hard corps among liberals capable of strik- chosen he doesn't know it." This could be when he toiled in the pay of A. Shivers ing sparks for his greater glory. Still, he as true as the love of chaste maiden for and P. Daniel, for he has thrown no bombs is probably the only candidate who might the prince of many charms. It also could in Washington squares. He is as safe and find high favor in both the White House be as phoney as a harlot's hello, which is respectable as a Pfudential policy, though and in liberal lairs. meant as no reflection upon the integrity of he may have tossed just enough scraps to Bob Waldren, a man neither known to Personally, I could generate white heat Democratic dogs to mildly enthuse those for the candidacy of rumpled State Rep. short-change blindmen nor drink the blood in moderate kennels. If however, Hon. of orphans. But stews cooked on political Bob Eckhardt of Houston. Bob may look Pickle hosts illusions that he is the sweet- like a sackful of doorknobs sprinkled with stoves often are left over low flame until heart of liberals, his missus had better the time of serving. Thus if a Pickle- cigar dust, but beneath that cluttered ex- search his pockets to see what he is smok- terior beats a heart that has fought our flavored dish is being concocted it will no ing. doubt be covered with cloth and removed to battles in lonely stations and has never back burners until nothing is left of this ducked a foe: the right-wing nuts and election-year banquet save Goldwater's WHICH BRINGS US to thoughts bigots, the Establishment's big cogs who picked bones reposing alongside John Birch as painful as aching eye-teeth, of how Tex- turn the little wheels in the legislature, the cups of bitter dregs. as liberals seemingly have no champion governor, the slick oil boys and flinty- possessed of enough pazzaz to cop the pri- eyed bankers. Rep. Eckhardt is literate, Unless I am being spoofed in the extreme mary duke and then go on to score knock- compassionate, honest, brave, wise—and by my "usually reliable source," the out over Senator Tower, lightweight has no more chance to be elected U.S. Pickle ploy was sired by Gov. Connally. though the senator may register from brain senator than a snowball has got in hell. Anyone who knows that Luci Baines dances to ankle-bone. Voters who have recently rejected good the Watusi and has a father given to high Don Yarborough has offered himself un- men like Benton Musslewhite, Max Carrik- speeds on Texas side roads has no trouble wisely and too frequently, the Alf Landon er, Dan Sullivan, and Malcolm McGregor placing faith in the story that President porportions of his summer setback at the in favor of mossbacks who warm Texas Johnson hankers to sic his faithful friend hands of Gov. Connally leading one to chairs in Congress are about as likely to John Connally on Tower. But our governor wonder if maybe he shouldn't resume his embrace Eckhardt as I am to inherit the seemingly wants no part of the action, estate of H. L. Hunt. '(Throw out the Life having confided in anyone who will listen trade. Maury Maverick, though a man of the Line.) how he desires nothing so much as a return to the environs of Floresville once he suf- highest and truest tone, ran for U.S. sena- tor as if smuggling lead weights in his THAT BRINGS US to Jim fers through his newest two-year contract shoes. Wright, who is not entirely without friends 10 The Texas Observer Rep. Henry Gonzalez went to the well in liberal gatherings. But. Congressman Wright has suffered serious slippage, and has only himself to blame. First, by turning more and more away from liberalism through his votes in Congress, and second, Political Intelligence by wearing personal ambition on his sleeve to the extent that he quaked to run against Senator Yarborough this year and was not particular about his sponsors. Only after V A question of sensitive interest in Tex- office, that House Speaker Byron Tunnell the long-dollar boys lined up first behind as early next year will be whether wants the spot on the Texas Railroad Lloyd Bentsen and then Joe Kilgore (before Sen. Ralph Yarborough steps up to the Cmsn. that the incumbent member, Ernest Big Daddy said "No") did Rep. Wright Senate appropriations committee (Hubert Thompson, is thought to be preparing to cease flirting with the notion. He went so Humphrey's leaving the Senate creates a vacate. far as to attempt to extract promises from vacancy). George Bush based his charge Some of the people who traveled with Yarborough supporters that they would line that Yarborough is ineffective in large part Bonanza TV star Dan Blocker as he cam- up behind him in a 1966 senatorial bid as a on the fact that Yarborough has been by- paigned for the entire Democratic ticket in reward, more or less, for not opposing passed for this committee, contrary to sen- Texas are touting him as a possible candi- Ralph this year. One Yarborough sup- iority, three times. date for governor in 1966. One of them porter snorted and flashed such a letter frof Religious critics of three textbooks on says Blocker would consider it. to me in Austin this summer. biology., who contended before the V The Texas Research League, • the Still, Wright is going to be a factor in state textbook committee and again last privately financed business organiza- the_race. He is said to be intent on running Monday before the state board of educa- tion that produces research on Texas state for the Senate come hell, high water, or tion that the books present evolution as a government, has made Torn Sealy, Midland John Connally—and, one must presume, fact when it is only a theory and do this attorney, its new chairman for 1965. Sealy Jake Pickle. In the final analysis, Wright to the detriment of religion, could take en- was co-chairman of the statewide Commit- may offer liberals their best bet simply couragement from the fact that six of the tee that lobbied for the enactment of the because there may be nobody better— state board members voted with them as sales tax that was passed in 1961. New dismal though the prospect is judged. the books were adopted, 14-6, along with directors of the league: W. W. Lynch, two others. The six voting with the critics Dallas president and chairman, Texas were T. R. Hughson, Clarksville; B. E. Mas- Power & Light Co., and Robert H. Stewart CERTAINLY WRIGHT would ters, Kilgore; Vernon Baird, Fort Worth; III, Dallas, president, First National Bank be preferable to some others said to be Paul Greenwood, Harlingen; Paul Mat- of Dallas. trembling in the wings for a senatorial thews, Greenville; and Mrs. George H. V Lt. Gov. Preston Smith, one of the shot. One of these is Congressman-at-large Swinney, Abilene. Fundamentalists will three most powerful men in state gov- Joe Pool, who votes like Cro-Magnon man take further cracks at the three books ernment, continues to discuss the next and has offered no more light on public when they come up for consideration for session's issues in public statements. He issues than a lone firefly could cast in adoption by local schbol boards, which can Carlsbad Caverns. Among the mysteries 11 choose from among five books on the ap- November 13, 1964 of life the Hon. Pool does not understand proved list. is how he got to his present high ledge, though the rest of us know it's because V Whether the report originated with Woodrow Bean had the ten-year amnesia Gov. John Connally or elsewhere is not when it came to filing income tax returns. known, but he must now be considered a THREE "SPOTS" Joe is a cheerful companion to sit with at possibility as a Senate candidate in 1966. libations, but I would no more vote for Cong. Jim Wright has all but announced, You Can't Afford him than I would have hired the late Bruno but Connally running would be a distinct Hauptmann to sit with my babies. problem for the Fort Worth moderate. Re- publican Sen. John Tower foresees, no MISSI Waggoner Carr, our attorney general doubt accurately, an all-out Democratic with the wavy hair and the empty head, is effort to beat him. There's a world of fun in Phoenix and far too light for. the battle. The President you're in the center of it all at the We hear a report, contrary to the idea WESTWARD HO. Right downtown, might not recognize him if they met on a with everything close at hand. Fine that he will run for attorney general in rooms and suites, luxury pool and gar- towpath in Stonewall County, and liberals 1966 if Waggoner Carr goes for higher dens, superb dining and entertainment find him about as attractive as Allan rooms. Air-conditioned. Free parking. Shivers, who, politically, is as dead as In the center of San Antonio, the GUNTER is virtually a city in itself, downtown Midland on Sunday afternoon. with fine shops and services just off Classified the lobby. Rooms and suites of lux- Speaker of the Texas House Byron Tunnell urious comfort, fine foods served round • offers only comic relief of a grim Dick the clock. Family rates, no extra For Sale charge for children under 14. Air- Nixon sort. Rep. Kilgore and Mr. Bentsen During the next 30 days the Becom Co. in conditioned. Special motor lobby. appear to have learned their bitter lessons Weatherford, Texas, will market the Halli- crafter line of FM 2-way radios at factory cost Enjoy beautiful Corpus Christi more by and do not loom large in new schemes. staying at one of the world's most beau- in the Austin area in order to introduce this tiful hotels, the ROBERT DRISCOLL. So there we are. The good men, and true, equipment. Price examples, Mobile unit 60 watt Drive-in lobby, lovely new rooms with do not figure to pack enough punch to ac- low band $390; Base station $400. All brand new breathtaking views. Superbswimming equip. is w /warranty. Lease purchase plans pool and cabanas. Finest food, per- complish the major point of winning; available 10% down, Balance up to 60 mos. sonalized service, full hotel facilities. other candidates are so unattractive as to Excellent location. Air-conditioned. make the average member of the Japanese Infantry look like Brigitte Bardot. Perhaps MEETINGS in the White House the same sour musings occurred to a Texan of considerable luster, THE THURSDAY CLUB of Dallas meets each and maybe that's when Hon. Pickle got Thursday noon for lunch (cafeteria style) at the Downtown YMCA, 605 No. Ervay St., looked at in charitable light. Dallas. It maketh me glum, thus dearth of Jim The TRAVIS COUNTY LIBERAL DEMO- Hoggs and Sam Houstons and Jimmy CRATS meet at Saengerrunde Hall, Scholz' ASSOCIATED Garten, at 8 p.m. on the first and third Thurs- FEDERAL'S Allreds. The world is full of sorrow . . . oil days. You're invited. depletion allowances . . . alimony payments Items for this regular feature must be re- PRESTIGE HOTELS . folks who won't buy books . . . Jerry ceived seven days before the date of issue in Sadler . . . General Walker. It is enough to which they are to be published. 7c per word, one publication; 5c per word. each additional pub- cause tears. lication. . said in a Dallas speech that the legislature V Acting on the basis of a rider enacted lation ever presented by T.S.T.A.; "is need- may have to choose between increasing the by the legislature in September, 1963, ed more than any [raise] previously re- sales tax rate, eliminating the sales tax that architects on state projects must be quested ; is opposed by the Texas Research exemption on groceries, farm machinery, approved by the governor, the University League with an argument that amounts to and drugs, and passing a state income tax. of Texas board of regents, noting that Con- "a cruel hoax"; and could be financed out These, he said, are the only three practical nally had not approved a Republican's of surplus, without new taxes. ways of raising the $150 million that will architectural firm for a project in El Paso, vf The Upshur REA Co-Op has settled be needed. dropped the firm, 4-3. The minority mem- out-of-court on the lawsuit that threat- According to the new-born "Houston bers were very upset, Rabbi Levi Olan ened to deny it the right to generate elec- Tribune," a conservative weekly, in a story charging, for instance, that the governor's tric power, agreeing .instead to take its on an exclusive interview with Smith, the silence and the board's decision "threatens power, in effect, from a private utility. . . . lieutenant governor "feels that new tax the academic integrity" of Texas Western, The phantom political writer of the Dallas money should come through elimination of a branch of the University at El Paso. News' Weathervane, "Lorrie Brooks," says present sales tax exemptions." The Tribune V The Houston Post has published three Dallas D. A. Henry Wade may get a fed- also said Smith indicated he is opposed to separate editorials attacking State eral judgeship. . . . The Observer advises repealing the state property tax, a repeal Rep. Charles Whitfield for being one of readers to discount, about 99.44%, recur- the governor devoutly seeks. the attorneys in a lawsuit filed against the rent rumors Sen. Yarborough might be Answering a League of Women Voters new contract between the city of Houston offered and accept such a judgeship. . . . questionaire, Smith said water pollution and the Trinity River Authority. The Post The Birchers' Houston coordinator, Phillip is "probably the most urgent problem to- in effect suggests Whitfield is letting his Blair Jones, made a political speech in a Bellaire high school classroom, causing day" in Texas government. "Understand- name be used so that a legislative con- protests. . . . Gov. Connally's endorsement ing and compromise of viewpoints are tinuance can be obtained as soon as the necessary, although not at the cost of legislature convenes. Advocates of the con- of the "Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom" by setting aside Nov. 9-15 as a unnecessary delay or threats to the public tract insist the delay is intolerable, and the "week" for it is featured in a newspaper health," he said. Post agrees. advertisement paid for by a conservative g. State Sen. Charles Herring, Austin, V Speaking in Corpus Christi, L. P. Dallas man. . . . Jim Wright, columnist intends to introduce a constitutional Sturgeon, director of public relations for the Dallas News, felt it necessary to amendment to reform stiff residence re- for the Texas State Teachers Assn., gave columnize against the Nazis upon receiving quirements that are preventing many peo- an indication how seriously the teachers' rebukes from "some local admirers of ple from voting. lobby takes its demand for a $45 a month Adolph Hitler." teachers' pay raise. Sturgeon said the V The Texas League of Women Voters 12 The Texas Observer raise is the most important piece of legis- has reprinted, in a four-page pamphlet, pacwarszowNsuommmgzawrszeutastiammmrszEtKrettomfamimrtsztmomms4avarstasaqszn discussions in the Observer within the past year on the Missouri Plan of judicial selec- tion: communications from Texas Chief Justice Robert W. Calvert and former As- 714e Obsetvet as a etttistwas sociate Justice W. St. John Garwood and cite "The Old Missouri Plan, Another View," by Charles Alan Wright. In a book of edi- In many cases the Observer makes a very Name torial endorsements of Johnson, "The Na- good Christmas gift, and a fairly inexpen- Address tion Speaks Out for the President," the sive one. We shrink from the commercial- City, State Democratic National Committee included ism' of Christmas, too, and therefore hope (Check here if you want us to sign your Wright's "A Republican Makes Up His this way of doing something real with a ❑ name to the gift card.) Mind" in the Aug. 21 Observer and the Ob- gift may appeal to you this year, as it does server editorial of Sept. 4. Willie Morris, each year to large numbers of our_ readers. Name an editor at Harper's now, has had essays If you have meant to give someone the Ob- Address in Commentary the last two months, one server this is a practical time to do it, too, City, State on his explorations in a John Birch cell in becaute of our Christmas rates. (Check here if you want us to sign your ❑ Austin, the other on "Legislating in Texas." For the first gift subscription, the usual name to the gift card.) On page eleven of our last $5 rate applies; for the second one, $4.50; Correction. Name issue, we mentioned that Sen. Ralph Yar- for the third and for each subsequent gift Address borough answered two Dallas News ques- subscription, $4. You can send ten gift City, State tions. In fact, these questions were ad- subscriptions for $40. dressed to the senator, not by the Dallas ❑ (Check here if you want us to sign your We will send a straightforward, well- name to the gift card.) News, but by members of the Bryan Jaycees, whom he was at the time address- printed gift announcement in color to each Name of the recipients, and we will hand-sign ing. 1:1 these with your name as the giver, if you Address so specify in the relevant place on the City, State forms below. 0 (Check here if you want us to sign your name to the gift card.) Hunting Thank you, and Merry You Know What. A Please attach an extra sheet if necessary. TO: Sarah Payne, Business Manager, Texas This offer does not apply to renewals, Printer Observer, 504 W. 24th St., Austin, Texas except for renewals of previous Christmas ? gift subscriptions. Please send the Observer as a Christmas Try gift to the following people: Enclosed • FUTURA Name Signed: Address Name City, State Address (Check here if you want us to sign your City, State ❑ name to the gift card.) (Adv.) F 'Criminal Syndicalism' i Mississippi

Atlanta, Ga. were prepared. Even parents were not per- With a recent wave of arrests under a Jerry DeMuth mitted to see those in jail. new state law outlawing "criminal syn- dicalism," Mississippi has again shown That day, John C. Gibson, writing in the rushed through the legislature in the county seat newspaper, the Magnolia that politically and legally it continues to spring, it was not used by the state, per- side with racists. Gazette, said that Dennis Sweeney, white haps because there was no shortage of S.N.C.C. worker who was also arrested, "in Last May 11, during what was the long- other laws under which civil rights work- est legislative session in the state's history our book of extremism should draw a pen- ers could be arrested. ally equal to that for treason, because —23 weeks, Senator E. K. Collins of Laurel When the law was passed, racial violence introduced the criminal syndicalism bill to what he and others like him are doing is was the most common in southwest Missis- treason." In the McComb newspaper, - outlaw advocating, teaching, aiding, or sippi. This area, centered around McComb, abetting the commission of crime or un- Charles Gordon reported, "Sheriff R. R. is where -the Klan is the strongest in Warren said today he believes increasingly lawful acts of force and violence or of Mississippi and is the home of the militant "terrorism" to effect a change in owner- the explosions—four of which have oc- Americans - for the Preservation of the curred since Sunday—are being staged in ship or political or social change, or for White Race (A.P.W.R.). profit. The outlawed acts include written an effort to induce the federal government or spoken words, publications, organiza- In McComb on April 28, the barbershop to declare martial law here." Even Gov. tional efforts, and such. Punishment of an NAACP leader, Curtis Bryant, was Paul Johnson concurred: On September 30 ranges from fines of from $200 to $1,000 bombed. On June 22, three houses were he said, "Some of the bombs were 'plants,' and sentences of one to ten years for bombed. Two weeks later the office of the and we can say that they were the out- violating or encouraging others to violate Student Non-Violent Coordinating Com- growth of COFO activities." ("COFO" is the law. Owners of property or those who mittee was bombed. A Negro church was the Council of Federated Organizations control it and permit an assembly for such burned to the ground on July 17, and the that coordinates civil rights work in Mis- purposes face fines of from $100 to $500 next day there was an attempt to burn sissippi.) and up to a year in jail. another such church; three days later But the next day three whites were Kenneth Toler, writing in the Atlanta 'another one burned to the ground; the next arrested and charged with two of the Constitution, commented on the bill: day there was again an attempt to burn bombings. Membership cards in the still another one. On July 26 dynamite "Taking cognizance of the [racist] move- - A.P.W.R. and K.K.K. were found in the car ments, the state senate this week passed a was thrown at the home of Charles Bryant, of one of them. The three and eight others bill sources said was primarily aimed at brother of Curtis Bryant. In August there subsequently arrested were not charged suppressing militant white supremacists were attempts to burn a church and a with criminal syndicalism, although the from forming in the state." A UPI dispatch home and another home was bombed, as bill was supposedly aimed at white terror- from Jackson, the state capital, repeated well as a supermarket in a Negro neighbor- ists. They were charged under a law this belief : "A bill designed to cripple the hood. In September dynamite rocked and against the illegal possession of dynamite growth of white supremacy groups that damaged six homes and two churches— that was originally passed to enable the advocate violence won Mississippi Senate one of the churches was totally demolished. approval Monday .. . Sources said an or- On September 22, for the first time in November 13, 1964 13 ganization drive by the Ku Klux Klan and the state, the now four-month-old criminal other new, militantly-segregationist groups syndicalism law was used. Seven Negroes were the spark-plug for the proposal." And were arrested during brief rioting that Robert Gordon, newsman for the Jackson flared after two simultaneous bombings. #rilutz' Justice of the Peace Charles Herring Clarion-Ledger, also reported that the bill Since 1866 "was primarily aimed at surpressing [sic] ordered them charged under the criminal groups of militant white supremists who syndicalism law. County Sheriff R. R. The Place in Austin advocate violence." Warren, at the site of one of the bombings, However, Sen. Collins, who at the Demo- told newsmen, "In my opinion both this cratic National Convention argued before and the blast at the church were `plants' GOOD FOOD the credentials committee for the seating and you can quote me on it." of the regular Mississippi delegation, said The next day there was another bomb- GOOD BEER the bill could be used as well against inte- ing, and the following day 19 more Negroes grationist groups. It was passed without were arrested for criminal syndicalism. A 1607 San Jacinto discussion. McComb policeman told newsmen he had GE 7-4171 A companion bill, also introduced by a list of 24 Negroes for whom warrants Sen. Collins, was aimed at persons outside the state who advocate or aid "criminal syndicalism." This law would punish such persons if they were found in Mississippi. Texas Society To Abolish Capital Punishment Collins said it might make civil rights groups "think twice" about sending work- P. 0. BOX 8134 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78712 ers into the state. He also commented that the bill may be unconstitutional, but "it Most of the states of the United States and many foreign can't do us any harm." countries have stopped using death penalties, and NONE The criminal syndicalism law was for- have suffered increased crime as a result. (Nine states of gotten during the summer by civil rights the United States have legally abolished it.) workers, who at first had been concerned about it. Like a few of the other bills- REGULAR MEMBERSHIP $2 CONTRIBUTING MEMBERSHIP $5 Jerry DeMuth writes for New Republic SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP $10 and a number of other magazines. 4e. • '`• state to get strong convictions from arrests grand jury on $1,000 bond each and re- growing out of a labor strike. mained in jail. Louisiana's Nine of the eleven white men were tried Then on October 15 four S.N.C.C. field in late October, all pleading guilty to the secretaries were arrested for criminal charges. Though each could have received syndicalism while they were walking down Chessman as a maximum the death penalty, the nine a street in the downtown Negro section. were given suspended sentences. Pike They had not been passing out leaflets, but New Orleans, La. County Circuit Judge W. H. Watkins, Jr., each had a Freedom Democratic Party The last time a white man was executed remarked that the men were unduly pro- leaflet with him. The four have remained voked by outsiders of "low morality, some in jail. for the crime of rape in Louisiana was in 1907; in its entire history, the state has of them unhygienic." Judge Watkins also Lawyers began legal action against this pointed out that they were "mostly young; law. A petition for an injunction to enjoin executed only two whites for rape—both, all came from good families, who were its enforcement has been filed in relation interestingly enough, were aliens. Negroes, shocked at their involvement ; and deserved to the McComb arrests. A three-judge over forty of whom have been hanged or another chance." Four of the nine were panel is to hear the petition at some future electrocuted for rape in this century, have fared less well, though in recent years aged 44, 38, 36 and 35. date. Attorney Carsie Hall, who asked for an injunction preventing further arrests. some determined legal efforts have pro- In the meantime another wave of crimin- The legal challenge will be based largely longed the lives of several. al syndicalism arrests had occurred in the on recent rulings in Georgia and Pennsyl- Such efforts have succeeded in making Delta in Belzoni, 140 miles straight north vania where similar, though not identical Edgar Labat heir to Caryl Chessman's of McComb. state statutes were declared unconstitution- role: Labat's is the oldest pending capital On October 3 seven Negroes were pass- al by federal courts. case in the country. A Negro, he was an ing out leaflets announcing a community A different tack is being taken in attendant at a Catholic hospital in New meeting. Police picked them up, all but Belzoni, where petitions have been filed to Orleans when in November of 1950 he and one a high school student, and charged have the cases moved to federal court. A Clifton Poret were arrested for the rape them with criminal syndicalism. Two were subsequent suit will challenge the law's of a white woman. In March of 1953 the eventually released in care of an attorney, constitutionality. two men were sentenced to death; their but the other five were bound over to a Meanwhile, over twenty civil rights continued existence, after unsuccessful 14 The Texas Observer workers wait in Mississippi jails. appeals to the highest courts of both state and nation, is a source of frustration to those charged with the administration of Louisiana justice. There are ironies here: since federal courts have balked at the state's wilful failure to observe due process in the im- partial selection of juries, it has been sev- eral years since the state has been able to execute a Negro. Confederate justice is all but abolishing capital punishment for Louisiana Negroes. Of the two defendants, Labat is the more articulate. He has been allowed to write and has been doing so. Five chapters of an autobiography are already finished and are being edited by a Massachusetts woman, and several of his poems have appeared in the Vineyard Gazette. But an increasing flow of letters from here and abroad— where he has received more press coverage than at home—testifies to his emerging legal rather than literary prominence. He has had eight stays of execution. Describing one occasion when his reprieve came three hours before he was to die, he recounts that his sister had arrived to claim the body, his head had been shaved, and he could hear the stepped-up humming of the prison generators. To read his own letters is to wonder at his reasonableness. after bowling, beer is a natural Now in an eight-by-ten-foot cell in After you've bowled a game or two, or when you're winding up Louisiana state penitentiary at Angola, the evening at the neighborhood bowling center, it's good to relax Edgar Labat faces his fourteenth summer with friends and compare scores. What better way to add to the of imprisonment ; he has been on one death sport and the sociableness than with a refreshing glass of beer? row or another since his conviction. His However you take your fun—skiing, skating, or at your ease in the case is now being handled by Washington's game room—beer always makes a welcome addition to the party. Edward Bennett Williams and, for the Your familiar glass of beer is also a pleasurable reminder that Louisiana Civil Liberties Union, by Benja- we live in a land of personal freedom—and that our right to enjoy min E. Smith in New Orleans. beer and ale, if we so desire, is just one, but an important one, of "Over its lifetime of operations," the those personal freedoms. Steven H. Rubin is a member of- the In Texas ... beer goes with fun, with relaiation board of directors of the Louisiana Civil UNITED STATES BREWERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Liberties Union and a member of the execu- 905 International Life Bldg., Austin 1, Texas tive committee of the New Orleans branch of the NAACP. By profession he is a col- lege teacher. defense charges, the jury selection system ed a professional statistician and a staff of opportunities, not only of members of some which Labat faced "produced but one researchers who concluded that there was of the minorities, but also of many Anglo- Negro juror on a petit jury in Orleans not a single Negro on the final Orleans Americans. Mr. Johnson has committed his Parish." Thus the defense has applied for Parish jury panel of almost 150 names, and administration to a total war on poverty at a writ of habeas corpus, claiming that but four Negroes out of 300 names on the all levels of government. There are statis- Negroes were "deliberately and intentional- preliminary panels. Pure chance? "The tical indices by which poverty can be ly" excluded from the jury panel from probability," said the statistician, "is less measured, and if, by 1968, it has substan- which the trial jury was selected. To sub- than one in a million." tially decreased in the United States, John- stantiate that claim they recently employ- STEVEN H. RUBIN son will be entitled to a large measure of the political credit; if not, the contrary. His sensitivity to criticism and his fabled skill in the Machiavellian uses of power in- tensify for Johnson another problem any chief executive of the federal government Observations has. He will need to be especially careful not to permit any agency or power of his ,•#####144•44#•••••••••••••■•••#•44.•••••••~#•###••••••••••••44 ########I44 #•••••••••••#########* administration to be used for political or punitive purposes against any individual. LBJ Begins Now OF FIRST MOMENT politically The President has already taken steps His first year President Johnson has had will be the honesty of his administration. to bring into being his plans and projects great legislative success, but principally in Goldwater and his associates in effect for "the great society." As a legislator he the pursuit of President Kennedy's pro- charged that the White House has become was not noted for innovation, but as Presi- grams. Johnson's challenge and his trouble a haven for immorality and Democratic dent he will be expected to propose pro- both begin now that he bas been elected in liberalism an umbrella for crime and riot. found new ideas for the improvement of his' own right. If Johnson and his associates are not as- the quality of personal life in America— for the attempt, through public policy, to Most presidents have two or three years, siduously scrupulous, the political toll will arrest the processes that are alienating the anyway, before they have to start coping be harsh and inevitable in 1968. with bitter hostilities, but Johnson has not city-dweller from his work and from his Since he has become President, John- society as he daily experiences it. had that period of grace. Even as he cru- son's dedication to civil rights has been saded for such controversial causes as civil thorough and effective, but the notion has rights, medicare, and government spend- been running underground in the South I F, IN EACH of these matters, ing, vulnerabilities in his past were relent- that he would soften his line, once elected. Johnson will have a motive of political lessly exploited in the campaign that has His performance on this issue will be as gamesmanship as potent as the motive of just been concluded against him. sensitive politically as the moral reputa- working toward "the great society," still ThOse vulnerabilities, lately so tiresome- tion of his administration. there is one area wherein he dare not play ly recited, include his 1948 Senate election politics at the expense of policy, and the In a special Southwide television appeal public dare not, either. As President Ken- and the charges that it was stolen; the fact the weekend before the voting, former that his own policy positions as a senator nedy and President Johnson both said, Texas Governor Price Daniel assured nuclear war could kill 300 million human tended to shift from time to time, evolving Southerners that Johnson understands sometimes in discernible directions, but beings in a matter of minutes, and as John- their problems and sympathizes with them, son also said during the campaign, we other times appearing to respond more to and Governor John Connally of Texas, opportunity than to new conviction; and want our children to survive, and to look (standing, as he awkwardly remarked, at back and say, "That was the generation the doubts that have been sown about his the base of a Confederate monument on the personal standards because of the Baker that split the atom. And that was the Capitol grounds,) said, "Lyndon Johnson generation that united mankind." case and the wealth Johnson and his family is a friend of the South, in every sense of have acquired while he has been a public Lyndon Johnson, and he alone, now must the word." Will Southern cynics be justi- bear continuously for the next four years servant. Legitimate questions have done fied, or will the Johnson administration him damage, but so also have scurrilous the personal responsibility for the survival, enforce the civil rights law vigorously or the destruction, of hundreds of millions charges and innuendoes that have been everywhere and employ the full authority snaked into print in bootleg paperbacks of people, and of the substance of civiliza- of the federal government to punish and and campaign tracts. deter racial violence in the Deep South November 13, 1964 15 Johnson's past is behind him; after Tues- states where it now goes unreproved? day he is entitled at the least to a standing Underlying and encompassing the talk- start, without old dogs yapping at his heels. worn subject of civil rights are the organic SUBSCRIBE Nothing can change the fact, however, that conditions of poverty—in jobs, therefore the sore places in his past are part of the income, therefore material goods and hous- OR RENEW context in which his performance will be ing and education, and therefore, again, in judged. jobs—that enshroud the lives and limit the THE TEXAS OBSERVER 504 West 24th Street JOHN R. DOWNES, JR. Austin 5, Texas Announces the Opening of his Office in SPLIT RAIL INN Enclosed is $5.00 for a one- Austin For the Practice of year subscription to the Observer HUMAN RELATIONS COUNSELING 217 South Lamar for : Marriage and Personal Counseling Name Literary Projective Analysis and Address General Self-Analysis Where Union Business, Organizational, and Group City, State Conflict Problems This is a renewal. Zen-Tao-General Semantics Orientation Men Meet This is a new subscription. By `Appointment (Austin) GR 8-2873 ❑ tion as we know it. By his stewardship in crat the idea that, if he voted Democratic, At a hearing before the State TeXtbook this awful power he will be judged most he was voting for socialism.' Lastly, you Committee on Oct. 14, their representatives gravely, not only by the electorate in 1968, criticize Senator Goldwater's campaign and seemed mainly anxious to be polite ; failing but by history. R.D. conclude that the Republican Party 'must to sell their best biology books, they may regroup under more sensible direction— at least continue in business with other, and no doubt it will.' less contentious texts. Typical . was this Don't Let It Pass "My point is that the Goldwater cam- _ ringing defense by Gordon Halberson, edi- Franklin Jones, Sr., Marshall attorney paign was devised to fit the pattern edi- torial representative of the science division and a contributing editor of this journal, torially laid down by the News for years. of Houghton-Mifflin : "The writers for the wrote the Dallas Morning News on Nov. 5: And fit it to a 'T' it did. The senator simply most part are native-born American Chris- tians. I am a deacon in the local Congrega- "Please permit a word of defense of Sen- possessed the courage of your prejudices, tional Church of my home town." ator Goldwater by a liberal Democrat. which you do not seem to have. He should not be criticized; the carpet-chewing edi- Obviously, concern is faint in supposedly "In your editorial eagerness to keep alive responsible quarters—but not in funda- the backward element of the Democratic torial sections of the reactionary press led him to his convictions and then ran out on mentalist nooks. Preachers, laymen, and Party in Texas, you seek to credit the suc- committees of the Church of Christ and cess of the national ticket to the popularity him when they were put to the test at the ballot box. other sects have rushed out of their caves of the state candidates. At the same time with public statements to ward off science- you criticize the Texas Republicans for "Respectfully, FRANKLIN JONES" devils. These Troglodytes hold meetings pounding into 'every conservative Demo- and shuffle around with petitions bemoan- ing the advent of knowledge in the hinter- •#••••••••••••••••••••■ININIMIN####444? ee...~#4444.•••••••••••••######## •• lands. . . . Plainly, the fundamentalists are the only large group taking part in this controversy. Their most absurd statements are almost undisputed. . . . Dialogue These damned nose-picking simpletons who plague us now claim to be Christians. #.444~~~~44*~.~.~...~#~4~44.~~...~#~~. What is a Christian? Is he really a fool who creates for himself the awful di- Insulting to Women fellow the ladies turn their heads to see lemma : God has created a being whose at the country club charity ball" is, in my only biological distinction is his mind and In spite of my usual appreciation of your opinion, totally beside the point, and I then has forbidden its use? Where are the work and of the Observer, there are times could wish the use of such tactics were Christians who believe that God's greatest when you annoy me beyond words. The beneath you, journalistically. gift is the power to think in order to under- most recent example, was your gratuitous Your own unsigned article, "Memo to Aand Love? slur on "young matrons" in your October D.C.," in the same issue, refers to "[Gover- If my thesis is not yet plain, then let 30 issue. nor] Connally and his fellow tories." Has me state it more succinctly: The preachers I am not, as it happens, a supporter of it crossed your mind that some—women as and laymen of the various lower orders of George Bush. But I strongly protest your well as men—might seriously have weighed religion who attempt to wrap our school implication that any woman who con- the advisability of voting, in whatever way system to fit their quackery are dangerous, sidered voting for him was branded ipso possible, against that organization for other and for others to allow them by default to facto as one of those who are "enthusiastic than purely bubble-headed reasons? "How- win this battle is to encourage them to a about him personally and have plenty of ever much he sends your matrons who are more portentous war on all truth. money for baby sitters and nothing much not well informed on issues," (your article - Neal Neese, Jr., 900 South Cooper, they have to do with their time." The "This Man George Bush") is insulting to Arlington, Tex. fact, if it be such, that "he is the sort of the intelligence of women on both sides, both politically and aesthetically, and I, Larry King a Joy 16 The Texas Observer for one, protest. May I commend your splendid publica- Mildred Boyer, Austin, Tex. tion, not only for the light it sheds on dark places, but also for its superb writing, An Adopted Cheer which makes it such a delight to read. The For once in my life I wish I was back in recent item by Larry King was a joy.— Texas to share the fun. Viva! Ole !—Harris Arnold Robert Beer, 6542 Northwood Rd., Green, New York City. Dallas 25, Tex. A Call to the Defense A Subscriber's Commercial Except for the assailants themselves, The readers of the Texas Observer can pitifully few people seem to be interested increase its circulation and consequently, in the attack on scientific textbooks. I its influence, by giving a subscription as a know of no Texas newspaper (not even the gift to commemorate birthdays, anniversa- Observer) whoch has editorially defended ries, graduations, etc. evolutionary science in the high school This Christmas, each Observer reader curriculum against the recent onslaught of can increase the circulation of the Observer the latter-day witch doctors of funda- by giving a subscription to the Observer mentalism. as Christmas gifts to family and friends. We know that it would be appreciated by The general public doesn't seem to give a damn. A querulous earlier letter of mine the recipient, as it is an oasis in this vast drew only one reply, from an Edith Miller journalistic wasteland called Texas. [Obs. Oct. 2]. I don't know how she stands Also, it is suggested that students and on this issue, since she seemed preoccupied professors of the various colleges and uni- with a defense of the art of the church versities in Texas should contact the Ob- (presumably Catholic). She was also sober- server and make arrangements to place the ly effective (to me, with a hangover) when bi-weekly on the news-stands at and sur- she pointed out that I'd probably never rounding their campuses. catch the public eye as Jesus did. David G. Copeland, attorney, 530 New The textbook publishers are diffident. Road, Waco, Tex.